by The Rev'd Bill Krizner, Canon for Missions & Evangelism
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15
We at St. Peter’s have been so very blessed to be sojourners in God’s ministry with the wonderful people of the South Rwenzori Diocese for these many years. The Diocese, which includes thirty eight parishes and more than 90 priests, is located in Southwest Uganda. In October 2005, our brothers and sisters welcomed us into the Church of Uganda as we separated from the Episcopal Church and provided solid orthodox leadership until we transferred to the Anglican Church in North America four years later. Many of our parishioners have traveled to Uganda on mission to share in varying work with our friends there. St. Peter’s Uganda Vulnerable Children Ministry has sponsored more than 200 children allowing each to receive invaluable education and support. And, most recently, St. Peter’s has agreed to provide the financial support necessary for the purchase of the first motorcycle that will allow priests to bring the Gospel into some of the most rural communities in all of Uganda. In sum, the Lord has drawn our people together for His mighty work and we rejoice in it.
While we in America now have unlimited access to COVID vaccinations and have witnessed the corresponding dramatic decline in resulting cases, our brothers and sisters in South Rwenzori are now being terrorized by the pandemic. Bishop Nason and I correspond weekly. During our conversations, he has repeatedly conveyed the harsh reality that they are now facing: vaccines are unavailable, an insufficient amount of healthcare workers at clinics, no oxygen at the hospitals, and a growing number of people are becoming sick and dying. As a result, the country of Uganda has implemented a 42-day lockdown that denies people the ability to gather for any purpose, including worship.
In response to the horrors of the pandemic, Bishop Nason called for a special prayer service that was held on July 4th. He invited different clergy leaders within the diocese and throughout the world to lead different areas of focus throughout the time. Hundreds of people were on the Zoom-based prayer meeting and the session was broadcast on the radio to encourage the faithful throughout the region. It was my privilege to specifically lead the time of prayer focused upon the Bishop, his wife Jane, and their seven children. Several members of his family have been infected by the terrible virus and have been slow to recover.
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Throughout the service, my eyes filled with tears as I scrolled through the hundreds of Zoom boxes to see so many mothers and fathers with their children in their laps faithfully singing “All To Jesus I Surrender” from their small open-air huts. Each of them now live in complete isolation and face the very same fears and worries that challenged each of us in America a year ago. My heart broke thinking of our current surplus of vaccines and the complete inability to share them with our brothers and sisters across the globe. But then I remembered the second part of Romans 12:15 - being called to “weep with those that weep”… joining in deep and continued prayer, knowing that our God loves all of us deeply and, trusting that He alone can bring comfort and healing to His Church in Uganda.
I committed each of us at St. Peter’s to specifically pray and therefore would ask that you post these names on your fridge, your mirror, or any other place that will remind you to bring your petitions to God daily. Please pray for Bishop Nason, Jane, Baluku, Ireen, Bwambale, Masereka, Kule, Bira, and Thembo.